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Five sporting stars from Bolsover receive bursary from Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund

17 June 2010

Kickboxers Jack Griffiths and Kirk Bytheway, boxer Jamie Robinson, gymnast Saran Carman and bowls player Ashley Clipston have each received a bursary, between them sharing £1,470.

All of the athletes currently compete for England or Great Britain, or have shown real potential to do so within 18 months, and they will each use their bursary to help meet training and competition costs.

Among the Fund’s financial backers are Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council.

Bolsover District Council Chairman Councillor Rita Turner, Bolsover District Council Senior Sport Development Officer Jenny Carter, and Derbyshire Sport Chairman Councillor Clive Moesby met the athletes and congratulated them at Bolsover District Council’s Sherwood Lodge offices on Wednesday, June 9.

More about each of the athletes is below.

Now in its third year, the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund has been set up thanks to contributions from a number of partners, including local authorities and businesses.

In addition to Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council, other contributors include High Peak Borough Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, Erewash Borough Council, South Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council.

Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Lorson International, Derby College and the Electrical Contractors Association have also all shown their support financially for a third year.

The five athletes are:

Kirk Bytheway (Kickboxing)

Kirk, (19), has been a member of the WAKO Great Britain Junior Team for many years, and is now in his first year as a member of the WAKO Great Britain Senior Team. His previous achievements include becoming WAKO British Champion in the Musical Weapons category.

Saran Carman (Gymnastics)

12-year-old Saran, from South Normanton, is a member of the GB development squad and is ranked fourth in her age group nationally. She was selected to compete at an international competition in Malta in December, and returned home with a gold, two silvers and a bronze. She is currently taking a break from competing due to injury.

Ashley Clipston (Bowls)

22-year-old Ashley, from South Normanton, was part of the England U25 team which won and the junior international series in Ireland earlier this year. Other recent achievements include competing at the Welsh Open, where he made it to the last 32 in the world, and becoming U25 Midland Counties Champion of Champions and Mens Midland Counties Champion of Champions.

Jack Griffiths (Kickboxing)

11-year-old Jack, from Bolsover, won three gold medals at the Austrian World Cup in April, winning the U12 weapons and open hand forms competition and the U16 weapons competition. He also won the U12 and U16 extreme forms divisions in both open hand and weapons at the WAKO British Championships, and three golds and one silver medal at the Irish Open earlier this year. Later this year he will also compete at World Championships.

Jamie Robinson (Boxing)

Last year Jamie, (18), from Bolsover, won the Great Britain youth gold medal and was a semi-finalist in the Junior ABA class 6 National Championships. This year he hopes to win a senior ABA title as he works towards his goal of being selected to box for Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 2012.

Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England are eligible for bursaries, except those already receiving individual lottery awards or TASS funding.

Pictured above, back from left, is Bolsover District Council Senior Sport Development Officer Jenny Carter, Derbyshire Sport Chairman Councillor Clive Moesby, and Bolsover District Council Chairman Councillor Rita Turner. Front from left is Saran Carman and Jack Griffiths.